A Man of Many Talents
Author, stylist, rockstar, painter, and an “overcomer of all things.” These are just a few of the many roles Elijah has taken on throughout his life.
Born in 1965 in San Jose, Elijah grew up in a household comprising of his non-biological father (a Church minister), his mother Naomi, grandmother, and 3 siblings. Elijah’s story of abuse started when he was 5 years old. He was repeatedly molested by his own brother, uncle, and other members of the church. He tried to tell his mother what was happening, but was instead beaten and sent to his room. When he turned 6, his older brother (the one who had been impeding on Elijah) moved out. But Elijah’s abuse didn’t end there. In fact, it would continue until he was 16 years old.
When his father fell sick, Elijah had to find a job at the age of 11 to help feed his family. “So, I've been paying my taxes since then. That's a long time, right?” he jokes in an attempt to lighten the conversation.
After being molested by his high school’s assistant pastor and principal, Elijah went home and cried to his mother. He couldn’t tell her what had happened, for fear of being punished again. After the incident, he transferred to James Lick High School to graduate with his friends. During his senior year, he decided to take a vocational class in cosmetology, where he found his passion. He then went on to attend Westgate Beauty College, where he was the only male in his class. After graduating from there, he opened up his own salon called Black Orchid in San Ramon. Simultaneously, he entered local and national competitions for cosmetology, and ended up winning a title of Best Cosmetologist for 10 years consecutively. Elijah, working as a hairdresser and stylist, helped send many models to Vanity Fair and Prada.
Amidst all this, Elijah also pursued his love for music by singing in the Peter Sundin band. I had the opportunity to witness his remarkable talent firsthand as he took the stage at Martha’s Kitchen, bringing smiles to the faces of both the clients enjoying dinner and the volunteers working tirelessly.
Years later, Elijah made the difficult decision to sell his salon to care for his aging parents. But in 2020, just as the world was reeling from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elijah’s life took a devastating turn. While visiting friends in Auburn, CA, he contracted the virus and was rushed to the ICU, where he battled for his life for two and a half harrowing months. Though he emerged victorious against COVID, the ordeal left him forever changed—struggling with asthma, diabetes, and temporary paralysis. Despite the challenges, Elijah remained resolute in his faith. “I'm living, walking proof that God is real. I'm a living testimony,” he says, his voice filled with both pain and unwavering belief.
But Elijah's hardships didn't end there. While he was in the hospital, his father passed away, and Elijah was unable to attend the funeral. Shortly after, his sister took on the responsibility of caring for their mother, who also fell ill in 2022. However, she (who had married and moved out when Elijah was just 5 years old) transferred his property into her name, leaving Elijah embroiled in a legal battle. With his home taken from him, Elijah found himself homeless.
Through Abode Services, a nonprofit dedicated to providing housing support, Elijah finally found a way to put a roof over his head again. However, his sense of stability was short-lived. When his caseworker fell into the grip of addiction, she turned to Elijah, desperately asking for his help to cheat the system and keep her job. Elijah, always empathetic and kind-hearted, agreed to blow into the breathalyzer for her since his system was clean. But in this chaos, his caseworker neglected to process his tenure extension. Despite explaining the situation to the managers, Elijah found himself blamed for being complicit in the caseworker's actions. Instead of receiving understanding or help, he was cast out once more, left to face the harsh reality of homelessness all over again.
As of now, Elijah has been living in his car for over a year. To stay active and maintain some semblance of normalcy, he’s invested in a gym membership, where he not only works out but also takes his daily showers. He’s also working on writing a book, titled Unwanted Attention, to share his story with more people. When I asked Elijah if he had any advice for others facing similar struggles, he responded with heartfelt wisdom: “My advice is to put your faith and trust in God. You are your only limitation in life. So whatever it is that you think is holding you back, you can overcome it. I am an overcomer of all things, and my faith has seen me through. You are never alone; God is always with you…Keep fighting, keep struggling, because it does get easier.”
Elijah now plans to partner with Martha’s Kitchen to offer free haircuts to those in need, putting his talent to use to bring a sense of dignity and normalcy to their lives.
